Life-preserver for aviators



H. L. ADAMS. LIFE PRESERVER FOR AVIATORS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 31. I9I2.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

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H. L. ADAMS.

LIFE PRESERVER FOR AVIATORS. APPLICATIIOR men MAY 3|, 1912.

1,19%91. PatentedAug. 15,1916.

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H. L. ADAMS.

LIFE PRESERVER FOR AVIATORS. APPLICATION ULED MAY31. 1912. 1,194,691. I PatentedAug. 15,1916.

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HERBERT L. ADAMS, F SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS.

LIFE-PRE SERVER FOB; AVIATORS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1916.

Application filed May 31, 1912. Serial No. 700,827.

' To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that- I, HERBERT L. ADAMS, citizen of the United States, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life- Preservers for Aviators, of which the following is'a specification.

My invention relates to an improved life preserver for use by aviators in the event of accident.

The object of my invention is to provide means for disposing conveniently and releasing quickl when desired, an improved parachute to enable aviators to save their lives in case of accident.

A further object is to provide a parachute with scoops on the outer edge to force air into said parachute which will cause said parachute to open, take air and fill quickly, so that an accident near the ground may not prove fatal to the aviator. And a still further object is to provide a parachute which is so constructed or so connected to the body of the aviator, that the direction in which it is moving may be controlled to some extent.

To these ends my invention consists in certain novel features, which I will now proceed to describe and will then particularly point out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved life preserver in use. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same showing the life preserver normally disposed about the body of the aviator. Fig. 3 is an elevation of a parachute showing valves for. steering. Fig. 4 is an elevation of a parachute showing the reinforcing device. Fig. 5 is an elevation showing a controlling valve; Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a perspective showing one of the air gathering scoops; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the body harness showing the con- :45 nection of the various controlling lines therewith, and Fig. 9 1s a sectional detail showing the means for connecting a ring to the body harness.

Referring more particularly to the separate parts of the device: 1 indicates a jacket or other supporting device.

2 are reinforcing strips which pass under the arm pits and return to the'ring 3, which is on top of each shoulder or other convenient place. These two strips are held together by straps 4:.

The hooks 5 may be of any convenient pattern, or the ropes 6 may be made permanently fast to the ring 3.

In order that the parachute 7 may open quickly, a scoop or scoops 8 or other means may be placed at the lower edge of parachute 7. The scoops 8 are to have means 11 to keep them open and also to have arope 12, or other means to'keep the scoops 8 in the position required. The upper end 13 of said scoop 8 is to open inside of the parachute 7. The rings 3, with the connecting ropes 6, are also so far apart that they divide the strain on the parachute 7 into two parts, and this aids largely in causing the folds of the parachute 7 to separate quickly as well as giving means to change the direction of the flight to the ground by movement of the shoulders.

The ropes 6 they can be moved by the hand to change the forward or backward movement. Therefore the parachute may be used as aglider in selecting a favorable spot onwhich to land.

To aid in steering,

the parachute may have valves in it and may be made in any convenient way, of which the way shown is one. The parachute has openings 23 which are covered by flaps 14:. Each flap is held fast at 15 to the parachute and passes through a slit 16 in the latter, said slit being located below the opening 23. On the lower free end of the flap is aneyelet 17 to which a rope 18 is connected, the same passing through a guide loop 19 located adjacent to the bottom edge of the parachute. The ropes 18 extend down to the members 2 of the body harness and are connected thereto by hooks 20 or other suitable means. The ropes 12 connected to the scoops 8 also extend down to the body harness, so as to be within reach of the operator, and they may be connected to the harness by hooks 20 Theparachute, when not in use, reposes' in a sack or pocket 9 carried bythe as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Fig. 4 shows means for reinforcing a parachute made of some very light material with material to increase the strength of said light material. The reinforcement consists of circumferential and radial bands, the circumferential bands extending in a spiral form around the parachute. The circumferential bands are shown at 21, and the radial bands at 22. The same result may be are in such a position that aviator obtained by weaving the parachute in such a way or with such material that a greater amount of strength may be had with less weight than if material was uniform in all respects.

While I have embodied in the foregoing the main features of my invention, I do not wish to be limited to the specific details thereof, but desire to be protected in various changes, alterations, and modifications, which may come up within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. A parachute having a series of circumferential and radial reinforcing bands applied thereto, the circumferential bands extending in a spiral form around the parachute.

2. The combination with a parachute having air escape openings at different points, valves for said openings, and independent operating means connected to said valves.

3. The combination with a parachute, of air gathering scoops mounted on the outer edge of the parachute and opening to the under surface thereof.

4 The combination with a parachute, of air gathering scoops mounted on the outer edge of the parachute and opening to the under surface thereof, and means for holding the air inlet ends of the scoops distended.

5.'The combination with a parachute, of a body harness to which the parachute is connected, air gathering scoops mounted on the outer edge of the parachute and opening into the under surface thereof, and a controlling line connected to each scoop and extending to the body harness.

5. The combination with a arachute, of ing air escape openings at di 'erent'points, flaps adapted to cover said openings, said flaps being fastened to the parachute above the openings, and the parachute below the openings having slits through which the free ends of the flaps are adapted to pass, and controlling lines connected to the free ends of the flaps.

In testimony whereof I have afl xed my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

- HERBERT L. ADAMS.

Witnesses:

W. E. WRIGHT, FRANK E. HOPKINS. 

